Related Links

Wilmington man pleads guilty to lesser charge in brother's death

Published: Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 10:41 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 10:41 a.m.

A Wilmington man pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Wednesday in a beating that likely led to his brother's death last summer.

Boyd Daddison Starnes, 57, was sentenced to 15 to 27 months in prison Wednesday on a charge of assault inflicting serious bodily injury. In exchange for the plea, a charge of second-degree murder was dismissed. Starnes stands accused of delivering a beating to his younger brother Barry Starnes that resulted in Barry dying days later from internal injuries. Initially, Boyd Starnes was charged with assault and then the charges were upgraded to second-degree murder.

According to police reports, Barry Starnes was not cooperative with police on July 20, 2012, when they responded to Solomon Towers, 15 Castle St., in response to the younger Starnes complaining of pain. He told officers that he had been assaulted by his brother the day before but refused to cooperate with law enforcement and file a report, a Wilmington Police Department spokeswoman said in December.

A week later, Barry Starnes returned to the hospital with complaints about pain in areas where he had been hit, Crockett said.

An autopsy concluded that Starnes had indeed died from blunt force trauma

<p>A Wilmington man pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Wednesday in a beating that likely led to his brother's death last summer. </p><p>Boyd Daddison Starnes, 57, was sentenced to 15 to 27 months in prison Wednesday on a charge of assault inflicting serious bodily injury. In exchange for the plea, a charge of second-degree murder was dismissed. Starnes stands accused of delivering a beating to his younger brother Barry Starnes that resulted in Barry dying days later from internal injuries. Initially, Boyd Starnes was charged with assault and then the charges were upgraded to second-degree murder. </p><p>According to police reports, Barry Starnes was not cooperative with police on July 20, 2012, when they responded to Solomon Towers, 15 Castle St., in response to the younger Starnes complaining of pain. He told officers that he had been assaulted by his brother the day before but refused to cooperate with law enforcement and file a report, a Wilmington Police Department spokeswoman said in December.</p><p>A week later, Barry Starnes returned to the hospital with complaints about pain in areas where he had been hit, Crockett said.</p><p>An autopsy concluded that Starnes had indeed died from blunt force trauma</p><p>F.T. Norton: 343-2070</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @FTNorton</p>